They Also Mourn Who Do Not Wear Black
Sufjan Stevens Lyrics


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If you happen to be educated
Time it marches on,
Oh time it marches on.
In the end there is a sacred show
Delivers every song,
Delivers every song.

Mourning steps and
Mourning gallivants
And mourning never shows,
No mourning never slows.
If the avatar reminds that it
Will never stand at all,
Will never stand as tall.

Since the water made it,
Most to sail it,
Made it most to song,
It made it most to song.
For the politics are not political
For what they stand,
For not what they demand.
Every senator and diplomat
Combines her certain part,
A matter for the heart.
Save yourself from recognition.
Selfless and quite song
To better get along.

(We love you. We Chose to.
We made to. We love you.)

If we concentrate and pull
Resources to the highest poll,
To beat the highest pull, too.
Ever will we conquer grief
And find it faster to resolve
The dead, to be absolved
And fed, to restore.
If the advantageous
Reprimand misgivings,
We won't grow.
We will not ever know.




We will not!
(Lift my life in healthy places!)

Overall Meaning

In Sufjan Stevens song "They Also Mourn Who Do Not Wear Black," the lyrics describe the inevitability of time and the process of mourning. The first verse starts with the idea that education does not protect you from the march of time. Time is sacred and it will deliver every song; it is the ultimate conductor. In the chorus, he talks about how mourning does not slow down or stop for anyone, and it is not something that's easily shown. The avatar mentioned in the lyrics recalls something tall that can never again stand as tall. This hints at the concept of impermanence.


The second verse talks about a ship sailing on water, and how water makes the ship a vessel that can sail and sing. Politics are referenced but are not necessarily political for what they stand, but rather for what they demand. The senator and diplomat combine their particular skills to make things work, making it a matter of the heart to resolve conflicts. The song ends with a call to action - to concentrate and pull resources to the highest poll, and to beat the highest pull too. Through this, the song suggests that if we concentrate on resolving our grief, we will conquer it and restore the dead.


Line by Line Meaning

If you happen to be educated
If you are fortunate enough to have had an education


Time it marches on,
Time passes on, ignoring our grief and sorrow


Oh time it marches on.
Time is continuously moving, and we must move with it


In the end there is a sacred show
At the conclusion of our lives, there is a divine presentation


Delivers every song,
Brings us all through our personal journeys, including the high and low points


Mourning steps and
The act of grieving takes various forms and patterns


Mourning gallivants
Grief sometimes moves in unexpected ways and takes different paths


And mourning never shows,
Grief is often not visible from the surface


No mourning never slows.
Grief cannot be halted or slowed down


If the avatar reminds that it
If the embodiment serves as a reminder that it


Will never stand at all,
Will never have the capability to stand tall


Will never stand as tall.
Will never measure up to what is expected or desired


Since the water made it,
Since the circumstances brought it about


Most to sail it,
Allowed it to sail smoothly


Made it most to song,
Led to it being turned into a song


For the politics are not political
Politics are not only political matters


For what they stand,
They represent significant values and ideas


For not what they demand.
Rather than making demands, they offer an alternative approach


Every senator and diplomat
Each politician and government representative


Combines her certain part,
Plays her specific role


A matter for the heart.
An issue that affects us on a deep level


Save yourself from recognition.
Avoid the desire for self-glorification


Selfless and quite song
A humble and subtle approach


To better get along.
Promoting unity and cooperation


(We love you. We Chose to. We made to. We love you.)
An expression of affection and dedication towards someone or something


If we concentrate and pull
If we focus and work together


Resources to the highest poll,
Means of support towards the most crucial, essential aspects


To beat the highest pull, too.
To overcome the most formidable challenges


Ever will we conquer grief
We will always be victorious over grief


And find it faster to resolve
And find ways to address it more efficiently


The dead, to be absolved
The deceased, to be forgiven of their sins


And fed, to restore.
And nourished, to be revitalized and reinvigorated


If the advantageous
If we have the privilege


Reprimand misgivings,
Correct our uncertainties and doubts


We won't grow.
We will not improve or develop


We will not ever know.
We will never truly understand or grasp the concept being presented


We will not!
We are not able to succeed unless we remain aware of our weaknesses and limitations


(Lift my life in healthy places!)
Request to live in healthy and positive environments




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: SUFJAN STEVENS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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